💻 PHP for Beginners — Full Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to PHP
What is PHP and Why It’s Used
How PHP Works on the Server
Setting Up a Local Development Environment (XAMPP, WAMP, Laragon, etc.)
Writing Your First PHP Script
Embedding PHP in HTML
Understanding the PHP Execution Flow
Module 2: PHP Syntax and Basics
PHP Tags (<?php ... ?>)
Comments in PHP
Variables and Data Types
Constants and define()
Echo vs Print
String Concatenation
Basic Debugging with var_dump() and print_r()
Module 3: Operators
Arithmetic Operators
Assignment Operators
Comparison Operators
Logical Operators
Increment and Decrement Operators
String and Array Operators
Module 4: Conditional Statements
if, else, and elseif
Nested Conditions
switch Statements
Ternary Operator
Common Conditional Patterns
Module 5: Loops and Iterations
while Loop
do...while Loop
for Loop
foreach Loop
Using break and continue
Looping Through Arrays
Module 6: Functions in PHP
Defining and Calling Functions
Function Parameters and Return Values
Default Parameter Values
Variable Scope (Local vs Global)
Built-in PHP Functions
Anonymous Functions (Intro to Closures)
Module 7: Arrays
Indexed Arrays
Associative Arrays
Multidimensional Arrays
Array Functions (array_push, array_pop, count, etc.)
Looping Through Arrays
Sorting and Merging Arrays
Module 8: Working with Strings
String Creation and Manipulation
Useful String Functions (strlen, str_replace, substr, etc.)
String Interpolation and Concatenation
Handling Multiline Strings (Heredoc / Nowdoc)
Module 9: Working with Forms (HTML + PHP)
Creating Forms in HTML
Sending Data with GET and POST
Accessing Form Data in PHP
Input Validation and Sanitization
Handling Empty Fields and Errors
Basic Form Security (XSS, Injection Prevention)
Module 10: Working with Files
Reading Files with fopen() and fread()
Writing and Appending Files
Checking if Files Exist
Uploading Files via Forms
File Permissions and Security Tips
Module 11: Include and Require
Understanding Code Reusability
include() vs require()
Using include_once and require_once
Organizing a Site with Header, Footer, and Nav Files
Module 12: Superglobals
Introduction to Superglobals
$_GET, $_POST, and $_REQUEST
$_SERVER — Accessing Server Information
$_FILES — Working with Uploads
$_SESSION and $_COOKIE Overview
$_ENV and $_GLOBALS
Module 13: Sessions and Cookies
What Are Sessions and Cookies?
Starting and Ending Sessions
Storing and Retrieving Session Variables
Creating and Deleting Cookies
Using Sessions for Login Systems
Module 14: Introduction to Databases (MySQL + PHP)
Setting Up a Database with phpMyAdmin
Connecting PHP to MySQL (MySQLi or PDO)
Running Queries (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE)
Fetching Data from the Database
Displaying Database Results in HTML
Handling Errors and Exceptions
Module 15: CRUD Application (Mini Project)
What is CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
Creating a Simple Database and Table
Inserting Data Using PHP Forms
Reading and Displaying Data
Updating and Deleting Records
Styling with Basic CSS
Module 16: Error Handling
Common PHP Errors and Warnings
Using try, catch, and throw
Custom Error Messages
Logging Errors
Debugging Techniques
Module 17: Working with Dates and Times
Using date() and time() Functions
Formatting Dates
Time Zones and DateTime Objects
Calculating Time Differences
Module 18: PHP and JSON / APIs
What is JSON?
Encoding and Decoding JSON in PHP
Reading API Data with file_get_contents()
Displaying API Data on a Web Page
Sending Data to APIs (Intro to cURL)
Module 19: Security and Best Practices
Data Validation and Sanitization
Password Hashing (password_hash() and password_verify())
Preventing SQL Injection
Preventing Cross-site Scripting (XSS)
Using HTTPS and Secure Cookies
Environment Variables and Config Files
Module 20: Final Project — Simple Login & Registration System
Designing the User Interface (HTML + CSS)
Creating a User Table in MySQL
Registering Users with Password Hashing
Logging In and Managing Sessions
Restricting Access to Protected Pages
Logging Out and Session Destruction
Bonus Module: Next Steps for PHP Developers
Introduction to Object-Oriented PHP (Classes & Objects)
Using Composer and PHP Packages
Framework Overview (Laravel, CodeIgniter, etc.)
Working with APIs and JSON More Deeply
Deploying PHP Applications (Shared Hosting, cPanel, etc.)